Finding much comfort in the old hymns and old sayings as we consider the comfort of our dear loved ones in the hospital this week. The wisdom of the aged is sometimes questionable. Why do they do such silly things and cause such neglect to their bodies needs? Once a pattern is set in the brain, it cannot be reversed. The hymn for today is “I’m A Pilgrim And I’m A Stranger.” Pretty sure that I have never heard this one before in my life. I also heard about a new singing artist that has taken over the workout music industry. Sometimes I wonder where have I been?
A couple of these old sayings are as follows: too much of any thing good or bad is simply too much, eat smaller portions and soon you won’t be eating enough to keep a bird alive, don’t worry about what most people think-most people are thinking about themselves, and keeping company with the wrong company can make anyone a rotten apple. Most of these sayings have some origin that most of us don’t know. The origin of the next old saying is a nursery rhyme might as well have come from the story of Micah or Habakuk, I’ll have to read up.
Remember the Pumpkin Shell nursery rhyme? There are times I wonder that the un-named princess of little Peter is me. Perhaps my honey dearest could not keep me without building a “shell” to keep me in. I imagine the creatures being little mice and how well they did eat that first while. What happened when the shell begins to rot? Oh, never mind. Maybe the critters are the little black squirrel who helped himself to the pumpkin on my daughter’s from deck last fall. What a mess he made!
“In the shade of the old oak tree…” The song tells the story of the oak cross beam that holds a church bell. How the tree was a comfort for soldiers long ago, and then witnessed the bloody battle. And finally succumbed to the lumberjack’s saw. On the southern edge of our driveway I planted a row of walnut trees. The trees have been kept trimmed regularly to allow a mower beneath them. The one third method of branching was done for quite some time to make the trunk nice and straight. The squirrels have been ever so busy this fall. I no longer have a squirrel hunter. We will.have to sweep up the mess and burn all of the casings as it is quite treacherous to walk down there.
One hundread and forty years ago our acreage was first homesteaded by relatives in the journey to the new land. The story of one’s ancient pilgrims is always a fascinating history lesson for willing ears. I did take the time to have my children interview their great grandmother on my dad’s side during their growing up years. She was the oldest living relative at the time. It is hard to comprehend that now our parents are such. It is time for some more interviews for sure.
A time of one century, two score and four years ago…our forefather settled this land and planted a cottonwood tree.Near to the sod house where the dishwater was poured out next to the little sapling. I can imagine every day as the dishes were done the pale was carried out and the little sapling was watered. Then ten years later another bare root was planted near to the second little building that later burned down. And in another ten years the more permanent building was built with it’s little attic sleeping loft. When one says living history, they do not look at these two old trees, do they?
About five years ago we went down to the creek bottom and dug up some fifty cottonwood saplings. I found out how hard it was to keep them alive. Only one tree survived. It is planted straight south of our house as the crow flies. I took buckets of water to it the first year. Then I put a plastic sleeve around the base to protect it. This year it has outgrown the sleeve and I took it off. The trunk has a slight bend were the wind tried to break it three years ago, but otherwise it looks healthy.
Dawn is slow this morning. A thunderstorm covers the grey sky. It threatens me with thunder and lightening. Yet never seems to release it’s tears to wash away the dusty surface. If only it could really rain. We did have some the other day and my goodness but the flowers looked happy. Even the grass was a little green for an hour or two.
I have not been down to Cocoa’s tree much this summer. The deer found it last fall, but the roots were healthy and new branches came out this summer. I put an Irish spring soap bar on a string around one limb. I think that saved it from any more deer threat. I have some bushes and another tree to plant in the area along with a contemplation rock that I really like. We have not placed any of these items. One of these days the heat won’t threaten to kill every green thing anymore and we can plant some more down there before winter.
Placing any tree or bush is takes a lot of thought these days. Getting water to the little struggling life is key. And sometimes I just get tired of carrying water to everything. We have tried auto waters two or three times and invariably the hose breaks or the joint or the connecter or something and we loose 10,000 gallons into the ground in a real hurry! I just don’t trust them anymore.
Psalm chapter one talks about the tree planted by springs of living water. “Blessed is the man who … delights in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night…He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.“. In the passage it talks about walking, standing, and sitting NOT: with wicked counsel, sinners ways, or seated scoffers. Putting
this spiritual counsel into daily practice seams more relevant than ever. The two books that I have right now could not be in any more contrast. One is from a super model who wrote a book as if she had all of life’s lessons learned and now has just recently been divorced. The other is on the words of Mother Theresa. Honestly I think about the counsel that each one gives and find them to be in such opposite poles. Who would you listen to or take counsel from?
Streams of living water…. The words of saints and the word of God are just that to me. Each day when I struggle to bring my thoughts into captivity of Jesus Christ, I thank God that I have His Word in my life to give me healthy roots.